The SOCIETY Newsletter #82

The Most Beautiful Locker Room

The most beautiful locker room I have ever seen doesn’t reside at Winged Foot, Oakmont, Newport, NGLA, Augusta National, Cypress Point, Friars Head or any of the usual suspects. The most beautiful locker room I have ever seen is kind of a ghost- it sits as a reminder of what golf used to be- it sits quietly waiting for Babe Ruth to come back to use his locker.

The most beautiful locker room I have ever seen doesn’t reside at some exclusive retreat it resides at the oldest public golf course in the United States - Van Cortlandt Park.

This locker room once full of eager golfers readying themselves to hit the links or perhaps commiserate about the trouble and travails of their completed round, now sits empty but near perfectly preserved.

New York City is known for it’s architectural beauty and the locker room of Van Cortlandt Park is no exception.

This past week I spent quite a bit of time exploring the nooks and crannies of this historic purgatory that we visit before and after our golf rounds. I listened for the voices of our golfing forefathers and foremothers, and while they did not respond, I was transported to a cinematic moment of a young teacher who whispered into the reflections of the past…

“Carpe Diem- Sieze the Day!”

There is beauty everywhere- even in those places we tend to overlook.

At Van Cortlandt that stairway in the clubhouse, is a stairway to Golf Heaven where the likes of Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and even the Three Stooges once changed into their golf spikes. The men’s and women’s locker rooms of Van Cortlandt are a throwback to a bygone era where the municipal golfer was treated like a member of an exclusive club. It was here, where we all felt the same… we were just golfers.

The History of America’s First Muni

Origins: From Colonial Estate to Public Links

The course sits within Van Cortlandt Park, a 1,146‑acre Bronx jewel acquired by New York City in 1888. Previously owned by the influential Van Cortlandt family since the late 17th century, the land included the historic Van Cortlandt House and lush natural beauty that park planners admired and preserved  .

On July 6, 1895, New York City opened a nine‑hole golf course—built for about $625—on what was originally about 55 acres of parkland. This modest layout included one of the country’s longest holes at over 700 yards and quickly became a popular recreation hub. Some historians have attributed the original design to that of the 1894 Pre-USGA U.S. Open winner and Shinnecock Head Professional, Willie Dunn.

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Expansion: 18 Holes and Growing Popularity

By 1899, with the growth of the game of golf, the course expanded to a full 18 holes, thanks to the redesign by Tom Bendelow—nicknamed the “Johnny Appleseed of Golf”—who reshaped the layout across roughly 120 acres and introduced spacing improvements, hazard features, and enlarged greens to handle increasing traffic. A clubhouse was added in 1902, doubling as an ice‑skating pavilion during winter months .

From its inception, Van Cortlandt Golf Course became more than just a course—it was an experimental model for public golf facilities across America. In 1896, it hosted the country’s first professional public tournament, a watershed moment in popularizing the sport  .

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Community Landmark & Cultural Icon

Over the decades, Vanny (as the locals call it) attracted locals and celebrities alike—including famed figures such as Babe Ruth and Joe Louis—cementing its role as a cultural as well as recreational institution in New York City  . It became woven into the daily life of Bronx residents and Manhattanites who reached it easily via subway to Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street station.

By the 1930s, the golf course was central to park life, even as Robert Moses’ highway expansions (Henry Hudson and Mosholu Parkways) fragmented the park’s landscape, forcing redesigns on several holes to accommodate roads and construction labor funded by New Deal work between 1936–41  .

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Decline and Restoration

Like much of NYC’s parks, Van Cortlandt Park—and its golf course—suffered neglect during the 1970s fiscal crisis. Pollution, vandalism, and mismanagement left the course overrun with weeds, broken amenities, and deteriorated ecology. The clubhouse and facilities were frequently used for illicit activities, and golfers endured hazardous conditions until management reforms in the mid‑1980s    .

In 1985, the municipality leased course management to American Golf Corporation, triggering much-needed restoration efforts. In 2007–14, the course underwent a major $5 million renovation—adding new greens, improved bunkers and drainage, upgraded tee boxes, and a refreshed clubhouse that now includes historical exhibits on its pioneering legacy  .

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Today: A Historic Gem Still in Play

Covering approximately 6,002 yards from the back tees, Van Cortlandt is a par‑70 layout blending hilly terrain, tree-lined fairways, and subtle design features. It remains one of the most affordable municipal courses in the city (walking fees range from $34–54), with strong historical appeal and easy access via public transit  .

The course’s clubhouse now includes vintage photographs and artifacts that celebrate its status as America’s first public golf venue. And while amenities have modernized, the layout still reflects Bendelow’s classic elevation changes and modest challenge.

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Legacy & Significance

Van Cortlandt Golf Course holds a unique chapter in U.S. golf history:

 • First public municipal golf course in the country (opened 1895)   

 • Hosted the first professional public golf tournament in 1896

 • Continued popularity led to early expansion and investment by the city

 • Despite periods of decline, strong restoration efforts preserved both its design and social value

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Conclusion

At once a living museum and a playable public amenity, Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course remains a testament to accessible sport and civic creativity. From its pioneering origins in the 19th century to its modern revitalization, “Vanny” continues to bind generations of New Yorkers—amateurs, history buffs, and city explorers alike—in love for the game and for one of the most storied municipal courses in the world.

THE LOST HISTORY OF ALEXANDER FINDLAY

Our latest TalkinGolf History Podcast dives into the story of another golf architecture pioneer. You can listen to the “Lost History of Alexander Findlay,” by clicking the links below. This is a two part episode on the golfer who might have been nicknamed the “Most Interesting Golfer in the World” during his time.

 https://talkingolf.fireside.fm/140

SOCIETY MERCHANDISE

Finally after 7 ½ years the Society of Golf Historians is dipping its toe into creating merchandise with a historical twist.

If you have an interest shoot me an email: [email protected] 

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Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. When you have the chance, listen to our podcast on the Lost History of Alexander Findlay.